Representative Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican who previously served as the White House doctor during the Trump administration, quickly found out he'd messed with the wrong fanbase after he took to Twitter to call for pop star Rihanna to be dropped as Super Bowl halftime performer.
Jackson accused her of making a career of "spewing degenerate filth" while bringing up a time when Rihanna used an art installation to publicly criticize former President Donald Trump.
In 2020, Rihanna wrote “F*ck Trump” in spray paint at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The ranch encourages its visitors to paint designs and messages on any one of the 10 Cadillacs buried in the ground.
Rihanna's message was later painted over but she posted a photo of it to Instagram with the hashtag "#81days" to let her followers know how many days there were until that year's presidential election.
You can see Rihanna's post below.
Clearly this incident was still on Jackson's mind when he tweeted:
"Rihanna spray painted “F*** Donald Trump” on a car at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. She’s made a career of spewing degenerate filth while badmouthing America every chance she gets."
"Why is the NFL showcasing this crap? Rihanna SHOULD NOT be the halftime performer!!"
You can see Jackson's tweet below.
\u201cRihanna spray painted \u201cF*** Donald Trump\u201d on a car at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. She\u2019s made a career of spewing degenerate filth while badmouthing America every chance she gets. Why is the NFL showcasing this crap? Rihanna SHOULD NOT be the halftime performer!!\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
Fans of the singer quickly jumped to her defense and mocked Jackson profusely.
\u201c@RonnyJacksonTX But she WILL be and ain\u2019t a damn thing you can do about it except cry on Twitter! @rihanna is a queen!\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
\u201c@RonnyJacksonTX Suck it up.\nDo some legislating.\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
\u201c@RonnyJacksonTX You were also the personal doctor to the only insurrectionist President in American history. Are you proud about that? lol\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
\u201c@RonnyJacksonTX Awwwww you sound bitter. Remember FREEDOM OF SPEECH and EXPRESSION.\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
\u201c@RonnyJacksonTX I guess you\u2019ll just have to deal with her expressing her freedom of speech.\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
\u201c@RonnyJacksonTX $174K a year, folks. For that, you get a congressman tweeting into space about the Super Bowl halftime show.\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
\u201c@RonnyJacksonTX On today\u2019s episode of \u201cRonny De Drunk.\u201d\n\nTime to log off, Ronny. Rihanna is far above your pay grade.\u201d— Ronny Jackson (@Ronny Jackson) 1675956495
Rihanna has not addressed Jackson's attacks, probably because she's too busy preparing to headline the Super Bowl.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Rihanna said "it really feels like a lot's happening all at once" as she prepares to return to the stage for her first live performance since 2017.
Rihanna told the outlet she has been enjoying motherhood after giving birth to her son in May 2022. She is also up for an Academy Award next month after the song "Lift Me Up" on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack scored her a nomination for Best Original Song.
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House Oversight Committee